Euronews

Northern Ireland has a new power-sharing assembly. The British and Irish prime ministers are among those gathered at Stormont near Belfast for the swearing in of a devolved government. Eighty-one-year old Protestant cleric Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness are the heads of the government. The various ministers from both communities have also been confirmed in their jobs.

Britain’s direct rule over Northern Ireland came to an end at midnight. In 2002 power-sharing was suspended amid allegations of spying within Stormont. McGuinness and Paisley had been arch-enemies for years until agreement was finally reached in March on how power can be shared.